Shoring shield

Abstract

The present invention comprises a lightweight, portable, adjustable, reusable, preassembled, hydraulic expandable shoring shield for providing safety to personnel working in below-grade excavations. The Shoring shield comprises specially designed solid aluminum extruded sheeting sections forming the walls, each mounted with a top cap and lower skid, the walls are provided with a static expandable telescoping structural framework for holding the walls opposed, and also are provided with hydraulic cylinders for expanding the space enclosed between the walls, the framework and cylinders thus cooperate in combination with an armored manifold for routing fluid to the cylinders.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A device for shoring the walls of an excavation comprising: (a) spaced shield means for insertion into the excavation for support of opposing side walls of the open excavation;   (b) support means mounted upon each of said shield means;   (c) telescoping cross members mounted to said support means of each of said walls and extending across the space to form a box like structure expandable in one direction across the width of the excavation;   (d) means for extending and contracting said cross members across the width of the excavation; and,   (e) means for selectively applying, monitoring, adjusting and releasing a precise pressure to said open excavation walls said means comprising combination manifold means and valve means providing for at least one attachment point for a hydraulic pressure source.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for extending the telescoping cross members comprises hydraulic cylinders mounted across the width of the excavation proximate to and in tandem with each of said telescoping cross members, and wherein said means for contracting said cross members comprises coiled tension springs mounted generally parallel with, to said hydraulic cylinders and said telescoping cross members. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for expanding and contracting said cross members comprises double acting hydraulic cylinders mounted generally parallel to said telescoping cross members, which can selectively extend or contract in response to hydraulic pressure. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising: (a) means for simultaneous supply of hydraulic pressure equally to each of said hydraulic cylinders and selective pressure to isolated cylinders;   (b) protective armor means for said combination manifold means and valve means;   (c) hydraulic lines for connection of said combination manifold and valve means to each of said hydraulic cylinders; and,   (d) means for protecting substantially the entire length of each of said hydraulic lines.   
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising positive lock means for mechanically locking said shoring device into a selected position within its range of expansion. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said means for positive mechanical locking comprises holes formed at selected locations through said telescoping cross beams and locking pins for insertion into said holes drilled through said telescoping cross members to pin said telescoping member into a unit of fixed length. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said positive mechanical locking means comprises a jam nut threadedly connected to the exterior body of each of said hydraulic cylinders for threaded movement lengthwise of the cylinder body wherein said nut is engagable with the end of a hydraulic cylinder piston rod guard to prevent contraction of the cylinder. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 1 further comprising cap elements affixed to the tops of each of said shield means, skid members affixed to the lower edges of each of said shield means, and end plate means for optional walled protection across the width of the excavation, generally parallel to said cross members. 
     
     
       9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shield means comprises solid panels of extruded corrugated aluminum. 
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 9 wherein side panels, and wales are formed of 6061-T6 aluminum and wherein said corrugation pattern of said side walls comprises segments which repeat et seq along the length of said wall. 
     
     
       11. A method of shoring an excavation comprising the steps of: (a) forming shield means;   (b) interconnecting said shield means with telescoping cross members to form a two sided box like structure;   (c) fitting said cross members with extension means and contraction means and control means to expand the structure across its width and to retract the structure as desired;   (d) lowering said device into an excavation;   (e) actuating pressurizing means through said control means to expand said cross members and cause outer faces of said shield means to press against opposite faces of an excavation;   (f) continuously actuating said pressurizing means until said shield means press against opposite faces of said excavation at a precise predetermined pressure; and,   (g) monitoring and adjusting said actuating means to maintain said predetermined pressure against said excavation walls.